Guest Author - Jill Browne

Is your wallet full of loyalty cards, credit cards, store cards, and coupons? Some cards are just extra weight and not needed on your budget vacation. Other cards have hidden benefits worth exploring.

Here's one example: the motor club card. The main automobile club in Alberta, Canada is the Alberta Motor Association, or AMA. This is an affiliate of the CAA (Canadian Automobile Association) and the AAA (American Automobile Association).

The automobile association membership card is good to carry solely for the emergency roadside assistance it provides. However, the AMA and its sister organizations have added more benefits over the years.

For travellers, there is a reciprocal arrangement whereby you can ask for the local discounts if you have a card from one of the affiliated organizations. There are related motor clubs around the world. Your AAA card may get you discounts in Calgary, or England, or Australia, and vice versa.

The discounts in Calgary, Alberta include reduced admissions to some of the local museums, discounted off-site airport parking, hotel discounts, and discounted admission to some movie theatres.

The key to using the discounts is to read the fine print. Some savings are only available to residents of certain provinces or states. Others can be claimed by anyone with a card from the AMA or its affiliates.

What cards do you have which might be useful on your trip?

It's worth taking a moment to look on the website or speak to the issuer of any cards you are wondering about. Here are some offers to get your imagination working.

Your local YMCA may have reciprocal arrangements with other YMCAs in other places.

Discounts on car rentals and hotels are common membership benefits for some professional associations.

Many employers have negotiated a corporate rate with some vendors, especially with car rentals and hotels. Carry business cards with you in any case and always ask if there is a corporate rate.

If you support public broadcasting with a membership to a PBS station, there may be member discounts. From KSPS in Spokane, Washington, for example, the discounts include a number of restaurants within the broadcast area.

In Alberta, TELUS Mobility (cell phone dealer) offers what they call Perks to their customers. One of these has been a discount on car rentals.

Teachers are eligible for the ISIC card, which gives discounts on travel.

The cards you carry may save you money if you get to know them a little better.